Things to Do in New York City: From Times Square to the East Village

The short answer: One of the best ways to see New York City in a day is to start in Times Square, take the subway downtown to Union Square, walk through Washington Square Park and the East Village, and finish at East Village Pizza at 145 1st Ave. It's open until 4am (5am Thursday–Saturday). Order the signature Margherita or the double-stacked pizza, two full pies baked as one, which East Village Pizza has been making since 1997.

Start in Times Square

For most visitors, a trip to New York starts in Times Square, and it's worth seeing at least once. Things you can do there:

• See the lights after dark. The billboards are the reason to come, and they look best at night.
• Climb the red steps in Duffy Square. They give you the best free view of the whole square.
• Get same-day Broadway tickets at the TKTS booth. It sits under the red steps and sells discounted tickets for shows playing that day.
• Go early for photos. Mornings are much quieter than evenings.

Getting downtown: take the N, Q, R or W train from Times Square–42 St to 14 St–Union Square. The ride takes about 10 minutes. From there, East Village Pizza is a 10–15 minute walk east.

Union Square and the Greenmarket

Union Square is the gateway to downtown Manhattan. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the Union Square Greenmarket fills the plaza with farm stands from across the region. Any day of the week, the steps on the south side are a good place to sit and watch the city go by.

Washington Square Park

A short walk southwest is Washington Square Park, known for its marble arch, its central fountain and the street performers who play there most afternoons. NYU's campus surrounds the park, so it's always lively.

Walk the East Village

Head east and you're in the East Village, one of Manhattan's most distinctive neighborhoods. Things to do there:

• Walk St. Marks Place, the neighborhood's best-known street, lined with small shops and a long history as a center of the city's counterculture.
• Find the Alamo, the spinning cube at Astor Place. It's a local landmark and a common meeting spot.
• Relax in Tompkins Square Park, the neighborhood's green heart, with its dog run, elm trees and weekend crowds.

End the Day at East Village Pizza

At 145 1st Ave, between East 9th Street and St. Marks Place, East Village Pizza has been making New York-style pizza since 1997. It's a family-run pizzeria, not a chain or a franchise, and every pie starts with dough that's hand-tossed and cold-fermented for 72 hours. There are two pies to try first.

The Signature Margherita

The Margherita is the classic that shows off the dough best: tomato sauce, mozzarella and fresh basil on a thin, crisp New York crust. You can order it by the slice, as an 18" pie, as a Sicilian square, or gluten-free.

The Double-Stacked Pizza

This is the one people cross the city for. The double-stacked pizza is two full New York-style pizzas baked together as a single pie, with an extra layer of mozzarella and toppings between the two crusts. East Village Pizza has served it as a signature since 1997, and you can pick different toppings for each layer, from Margherita and pepperoni to buffalo chicken or your own combination. It's big enough to share, which makes it a good order for a group. Read more about the double-stacked pizza and how it was perfected.

Also Worth Ordering

• NYC's original heart-shaped pizza, made to order year-round. See heart-shaped pizza.
• Calzones and garlic knots for the table. See the calzone guide.

Eat In, Pick Up or Get It Delivered

East Village Pizza is open for dine-in, pickup and delivery. The delivery area covers the East Village, Alphabet City, Union Square, Gramercy, Washington Square Park and Times Square, so if you're back at your hotel after a show, the pizza can come to you. Browse the full menu.

Late-Night Pizza in NYC

New York is famous for staying up late, and East Village Pizza keeps the same hours as the city: Sunday–Wednesday 11am–4am and Thursday–Saturday 11am–5am. That makes it an easy last stop after a Broadway show, a concert or a night out. For more ideas, see the guide to NYC late-night eats.

Three Ways to Plan Your Day

• Afternoon to late night: Times Square → Union Square → Washington Square Park → St. Marks Place, then a double-stacked pizza for dinner.
• Show night: a Broadway matinee or evening show, then the subway downtown for Margherita slices after the curtain.
• Rainy day: Times Square, the subway to Union Square, then straight to East Village Pizza for a pie to share, eaten in or delivered.

Visit East Village Pizza

145 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003 (between E 9th St and St. Marks Place) · +1 (212) 529-4545 · Open Sunday–Wednesday 11am–4am, Thursday–Saturday 11am–5am · See the menu · Get directions